New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
SPECTACLES AND BALLET.
TALK WITH BOLOssY KIRALFY.

Since tho early days OF the "Black Crook ana
onward the Of Kralfy has been intimately
associated with tho leading spectacular productions
of this country. Scarcely one Of any Importance
but has been managed by the Klralfy Brothers, and
to-day they virtually enjoy monopoly OF this order
OF entertainment. The Kralfy Brothers, however, as
a trademark Is term which has now no meaning,
for the two brothers, Bolossy and Imre, have decided
I'm future to follow their fortunes separately.
In od-fashoned house in Washington Square
which, with its clean red bricks and green Virginia
creepers twining over the balconies looks out over
the noble trees which form the square, the brothers
live whom thcy IN NewYork. Here they used to
have their Offices when they were In business to-
gether and here they both of them still to BIO
found now that they longer and undivided.
week or 80 ago the elder OF the brothers, Bolossy,
arrived from long trip through the principal Euro
pean centres Of amusement. Bolossy Kralfy Is h
clever business man He has Away been lavish to
tho verge of extravaganza in the production OF his
pieces when he considered that artistic excellence was
TO DO gained by large expenditure though 1t is said
that few better able to look after the details
OF this expenditure and to cut down unnecessary ex-
penses. al have started" said he the other day, on
a new tack. For the last year two have been
gradually coming to the conclusion that the taste of
tho American public has got beyond spectacle as We
used to give 1T They want something now
than a succession Of Amazonian marches and 80
forth, strung thread Of plot Of inherent in
tercst. The visits Of Henry Irving and Wilson Barrett
and the work OF our own leading actors have rased
In o marked degree the standard OF public TASTE 1t
with these ideas in my mind that went to Paris
this spring to what l could find to supply me
for the next twelve montha I found moro than
anticipated have como back after having made
contract with NJ. Felix Duquesnes, OF the Porte St
Martin, Of Paris; with him have arranged to handle
on this side Of the Atlantic all the principal successes
Of his theatre. when play Is produced by him,
should it DO Of such nature to bc suitable Nor
r.thl tun 81 %
critics and Of scenery Will be manufactured by tho
STAFF of the theatre. One of these sets will be sent
to me for use In America, and you can easily see
that the expense OF production will thus be greatly
lessened.
at NJ Duquesness house In the Rue dc popera
met saraou and D'Ennery, tho latter of whom I
found to DO delightful old man He is now over
seventy years Of ago. but apparently vigorous
and sprightly II he were twenty years younger.
We had interesting chat about America and the
reception his plays have had In this country, and
amused to find how little store he set by the
pecuniary advantages he has derived from them.
The profits Of French author In his own country
ao so large should his play be at all successful that
he looks tho amount OF money paid for the American
rights of his pieces mere triho. Indeed, NJ.
D'Ennery told INC that IN many instances no had
rcce ged from America not sou for plays which
had run here for hundreds Of nights. In France,
you know, author gets 10 per cent OF the gross
receipts roy atty, and good play will bring TO It's
creator anywhere In the neighborhood Of three or
four hundred thousand francs He spoke Of his in
from his plays as gradually falling or and said
that last year he had received comparatively little
That comparatively little, however / found out was
more than $4,000 francs. ~ ID Emery told also
that he had idea for new play especially adapted
to Tho American market, which he was at once going
to put into execution play which is 10 be trans
lated said he, should depend moro its plot and
situations than It's dialogue, for let the translator be
clever may be, he will certainly miss much Of
tho spirit and dellcacy OF the original A situation
however can always DO translated Tho play TO
which NJ. DEnnery referred viii be finished probably
Within six months, and have arranged with NJ. Du-
quesnels to control the American rights 1t VIII be
In measure spectacular but VIII have strong and
interesting plot"
Mr.. Kiralfy produced a largo portfolio which con-
tanned most Of tho sketches OF to he used In
the production Of LA Pstrie," which, under the
tito Of Dolores" he is going TO play through the
country this coming season Not the least interest
ing of these sketches the Of designs for the
Dresden Ballet which has for months been delight
Ing tho audiences at tho London Alhambra. These
dantIIy designed watcrcoIor sketches translated into
costume all the well-known sly Of tho rvyal Cor
man onIna Tho sight Of them suggested the aucs-
ton u TO whether theatre following tho lines Of
tho Alhambra would be successful In New Iorh II
don't think So said Mr. Kiraliy; ave do not under.
stand the ballet in the first place, a. they 90 In
London. and entertainments consisting OF ballet
alone would, think, be hardy enough Tor the average
a theatre in Scw-York which would be devoted TO
spectacular productions OF different sorts would DO
financially successful We cannot things rs long
here they DO I'm England, and thore would have 70
DO constant change even In the style OF the en-
As an Instance OF the extreme thoroughnoss and
Parsian theatre Of the standing 81 the Porte st. Mar
tin Mr.. kirafy showed his visitor the plot
Vows In the production OF . la Patre Sheet after
which 70 casual observr would have seemed almost
meanlp scs' in their inirt1cy DR. Kiralty 9OwgeT
canes and how every wing drop piece Of furniture and
nIlly short time with extreme cxactness. e found"
said he that a. scenic construction in Paris differs
They mako a lavish use tloro Of wooden construction
and where We should use cut drop they use an elaD
when compared with its cost in this country, i had
the result Of it Is that he T. going to adopt IL future
several Of our American methods" Mr., kiralfy also
showed his visitor tho elaborate Inventories OF
to be used In tho play Every dress used by the
company from tho principals down to tho most unm-
lcs,bcd With lnmutcnos Altogether thore we're
nearly 500 Of these dresses referred to. You viii
spectacular production 1 no trivial matter between
NOW and % q my o s Do
gagng my company and having the scenery painted
Talking OF the ballet Mr. Kiralfy touched on the grow
ing scarcity OF premeres daaseusos Every year there
seems be fewer Of them" said he, fact attribute
TO the temporary decline OF the ballet years ago
and It's sudden resuscitation at the present time e.
Petersburg claims two OF the foremost, London
and Madrid each many. and then there Milan. Pars
and Vienna be supplied without taking America into
account. All tho wolIknown dancers are engaged at
exorbtant salaries in Europe have been myself quito
fortunate though my good luck has cost not little
Ny star for the coming season 10 Anoinete Bella, who
since In America years has developed
into marvel OF grace and beauty She created tho part
OF at La Scala in the ballet OF that name, and
had 10 bid high her In order to make sure
had her sign two contracts, one In French and one In
English, before the American consul at Turin The
I..tl Irnth IN trhn n "
failed and La Scala has been leased for four years by
Giuseppe Lampert who used to be our agent In Rome.
think he will revive the historic theatres old gorics"
REFUSING TO VOTE MONEY FOR TIE JUBILEE.
OTTAWA, Juno 25 iS2eeiaD.-The Carleton County
Council represented In Parliament by
Sir John Macdonald and representing the
METROPOLITAN County has refused TO grant any money
a. l,e On a,av